Barnabas Pike / Posted May 27, 2019
"Shot in th' back, ya say...ya know who? He still lingerin' out there?"
“Hard to say, him being behind me an all.” Pronto replied.
She hadn't heard any shots, so it hadn't happened right here in town, but that didn't mean that whoever had done it hadn't followed him, and her gun was in its holster, hanging from a peg by one of the stalls. Hopefully the yahoo...or yahoos...weren't bold enough to follow Pike in here, and she flinched when she heard footsteps nearing, relieved to see Weedy and the doctor trot in.
“Was a fair piece from town when I taken the bullet. I slumped for’erd as the hose bolted. I had a’holt of the horn, was all that kept be aboard.,” He exhaled heavily. “Whoever shot me didn’t follow...near as I kin figger.”
"Go fetch th' sheriff," she told the blonde boy, then she looked up at the doctor. "Shot in th' shoulder, ain't got a good look at it yet, but I got th' bleedin' slowed."
Jonah nodded as he set his bag down and knelt next to the man, noting that there was a good deal of blood, but not so much as to be alarming, just yet. "Afternoon," he commented with a smile, "I'm Doctor Danforth. Let me take a look at what you have here...is it just the one shot?" He didn't want to overlook something that seemed more minor just because this was dramatic.
“Mighty Glad to meet ya Doc, hope you kin plug ‘er up, yep but one’s aplenty.” Was Pike’s response.
Jonah Danforth / Posted May 27, 2019
"We'll see." Jonah cut away the clothing then finally looked at the woman (?) and nodded. "Go ahead and move your hand, please." She complied and he quickly dabbed at he wound with clean gauze, then put Addy's hand back.
"Not too bad," he declared, "but I can't work on it here, it's..."
"A barn?" Addy grinned, it was dusty and straw-y and just a bit poopy. "We can move him ta yer place, or, I got a room in th' back, clean cot, water on ta boil."
Jonah looked at Pronto, asking, "Do you think you can walk a few steps if we help? Otherwise..." Well, if he had to be carried, he'd need help.
"Otherwise we can drag ya by yer heels," Arnie chuckled, "or we'll carry ya." She had no doubt she could do it!
++++++
Meanwhile, feeling important in his role as messenger, Weedy dashed to the Sheriff's office, bursting in, not sure if he'd find Hannah here, or the new man, Speed. Didn't matter!
"Sheriff!" he called breathlessly, "there'sthismanatthestageliverybeenshotandMissAddy'swiththedoctorthereandtheyneedyou!"
Barnabas Pike / Posted May 28, 2019
Jonah looked at Pronto, asking, "Do you think you can walk a few steps if we help? Otherwise..." Well, if he had to be carried, he'd need help.
"Walk? yeah, well...Yeah, I think so." Came a hesitant, and somewhat dubious response
"Otherwise we can drag ya by yer heels," Arnie chuckled, "or we'll carry ya." She had no doubt she could do it!
"Oh good, as if my boots ain't down at the heel enough already." The crooked smile belied how weak he was. "Ugh," he ground as he fought his way to his feet. "I'm game if you two are. Reckon I'm a bit light headed, but I kin walk, I kin walk, you just hold tight an' we'll make it.
Jonah Danforth / Posted May 28, 2019
Jonah frowned skeptically as he took up one side of the man and Addy the other. "Let's just take him to your room," he suggested, doubting that they would make it to his office on the outskirts of town. Together, they helped Pronto the short way to the small room at the back of the livery. It was neat and clean, with a cot covered with a patchwork quilt, a trunk, small table with two chairs and a stove.
"There..." Addy nodded to cot, pulling off the quilt before lowering the man down. "I'll get ya some clean rags." She grinned. "Ya want a shot or two of whisky?" She didn't specify which man she was addressing.
Barnabas Pike / Posted May 29, 2019
"Ya want a shot or two of whisky?" She didn't specify which man she was addressing.
“Yeah, believe that’d set real well ‘bout now,” Pronto said haltingly. “Might ease the pain some. That shoulder’s burnin’ somthin’ fierce.” This wasn’t his first go-round with being wounded by gun or knife, and none of it was ever pleasant. "appreciate you takin' me in like this, I got me..." and he slipped into unconsciousness.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel / Posted May 31, 2019
"I'll take some of that whisky, too," Jonah commented, then he grinned, "after..."
But as Addy was reaching for the bottle, Pronto passed out and she shrugged. "More fer me." She grinned at the doctor, then set about helping the doctor as he dug out the bullet, something she could have done herself had she needed to, only it would have been a sight more brutal!
"Thank you for the help," Jonah commented as he finished up applying a bandage to the wound after extracting the wad of lead. The bullet hadn't damaged any major blood vessels, nor tendons or ligaments, so there would be no loss of function..
"Had plenty'a practice durin' th' war," she explained with a shrug. "Don't mind fer a friend."
After Jonah had left she saw to Pronto's horse, then settled in a chair by the cot to wait..
Barnabas Pike / Posted June 14, 2019
He had no recollection of time or of place as he came out of the swirling darkness, but a powerful thirst had overcome him. He groaned and half turned on the cot. His eyes opened slowly and fluttered as the light rushed in. He lifted half up and groaned,"Water..." He managed, and fell back.
Case Steelgrave / Posted June 14, 2019
Case swung his mount around at the sound of the rifle shot behind him. Was someone trying to bushwhack him? He couldn't figure it, he was a long ways from Kalispel as well as Whitefish, and he'd watched his back trail, well maybe not as well as he should have. Maybe somebody was savvy enough to stay out of sight, but keep on his trail.
He cursed himself! It was that woman, that school teacher that had distracted him from being as vigilant as he should have been. It was then he saw Robbins headed straight for him at a gallop. He reigned in as got Case.
"Boss!Some feller on a roan horse was trackin' you." He blurted out. "But I got him! Damn sure did."
"Where's the body?" Case asked angrily.
"Body?" Robbins asked. "Ain't one. Feller folded over his saddle horn and the roan? It done taken off through the trees faster'n I could foller. Lost 'em."
"Damn!" Case hissed. "Well, at least you got lead in him, likely bleed out when he falls off the horse. Let's get to the herd and get it movin, for Christ's sake!" with those word the two thundered off toward the hide out, and the rustled cattle.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel / Posted June 14, 2019
The low rays of the setting sun shone in the single window of the room at the back of the stage barn that served as Addy's home, and the tiny bits of dust and hay that she stirred up as she puttered at the stove, brewing coffee at the moment. She wasn't really much of a cook, but there were biscuits as well, and some stew that she'd had Weedy bring from the chop house, so that if Pronto was any condition to eat when (if) he woke up, there'd be something for him. Besides, she needed to stay here and tend her patient.
"Water..."
The softly spoken request actually startled her a little, not that she hadn't been hoping for it, but part of her hadn't been expecting it, that he'd lost too much blood and he was just going to quietly die on her cot.
"Come back from th' dead, did ya?" Grinning, she scooped up some water in a ceramic mug and carried it over to him. "Slow, give yer body a chance ta catch up...don't cotton ta cleanin' up th' floor!"
Posted June 15, 2019
With great effort Pronto raised up enough to sip the cool liquid, and then eased himself back down. He looked at the teamster and attempted a smile, something of a rarity.
"Th-thank you." He said haltingly. "Hit-hit pretty hard. Ga-good horse." His voice was all but a whisper. He knew that he was in bad shape, and vulnerable. One thing he didn't like. He desperately wanted one of his guns, but he knew he hadn't the strength to use it. "Hell of a thing."